3 July 2023
Delia Mason
[FYI request #23005 email]
[email address]
Ref: DOIA 2223-2833
Tēnā koe Delia
Thank you for your emails of 4 June 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
I understand that, since lodging your original request, you have discussed and agreed a refined
scope with a member of my team. The agreed scope is as follows:
My request is for the following information, covering the period from 1 July 2020 to 4 June 2023:
1. all advice you have provided to Ministers about sex workers and the working conditions
experienced by sex workers in New Zealand, and any advice on actions Ministers could
take to improve those conditions
*This should include any advice provided to Ministers about the response to the petition
of Pandora Black (https://petitions.parliament.nz/754469ba-9876-4424-8ff8-
5b84ba93a9cd);
but does not include any advice provided to Ministers in developing a
response to the UN on CEDAW)
2. all information produced by MBIE, for an internal MBIE audience, about the working
conditions of sex workers in New Zealand and whether there were any issues (eg emails,
meeting records, discussions, memos, papers)
3. copies of any advice, correspondence or meeting notes between MBIE and any other
government agencies regarding concerns or issues about working conditions or
regulatory standards for sex workers (e.g Human Rights Commission, Ministry for
Women, NZ Police, Ministry for Ethnic Communities)
*Items 2 and 3 relate to substantive information about working conditions / standards
for NZ sex workers. Information produced in developing advice to Ministers (eg
correspondence between agencies) should only be included if it contains substantive
information about working conditions / standards for NZ sex workers.
In addition, I request a response to the following question: Outline any projects currently
underway within MBIE about improving the working conditions of NZ workers (e.g. through law
changes) which may be applicable to sex workers.
I am writing to advise you that the Ministry will provide a response but needs to extend the time
available to answer your request. The Ministry’s response will be with you no later than 28 July
2021.
The reason for the extension is that consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are
such that a proper response to the request cannot be made within the original time limit.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
We will respond to you sooner if we are able to.
Yours sincerely
Alison Marris
Manager, Employment Standards Policy
Labour, Science and Enterprise
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
